Ko Wen-je responds for the first time after being released on bail regarding the rumor of 1,500 Bitcoins: After a year of investigation, nothing was found.

The political scene in Taiwan has once again been stirred up by rumors of crypto assets. Former Taipei Mayor and former chairman of the People’s Party, Ko Wen-je, is involved in a corruption, profiteering, and money laundering case. On September 8th, his wife, Chen Peiqi, posted bail of 70 million TWD, and he is restricted to house arrest, prohibited from leaving the country or going out to sea, with additional electronic monitoring and contact restrictions. After leaving the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, Ko Wen-je responded for the first time to the widely circulated rumors of the "1500 Bitcoins" illicit funds, stating that "they have investigated for a year and found nothing," and criticized the case as a "miscarriage of justice."

Bail Granted for Release: Strong Criticism of Prosecutor's Illegal Actions

After being detained for a full year, Ko Wen-je appeared at the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on September 8, and told the media directly: "I haven't seen the sun for a long time."

He accused Lai Ching-te of violating the law in collusion with the Taipei District Prosecutors Office and questioned the legal basis for the prosecution's detention, criticizing that this case has destroyed the trust in Taiwan's judiciary.

Ko Wen-je emphasized that the prosecution has already searched his bank safe, home USB, and even checked if there were any virtual currency cold wallets, but "nothing was found."

1500 Bitcoin Rumors: From Political Rumors to Analysis in the Coin Circle

The outside world previously circulated the number "1500", and political commentary programs speculated that it might involve 15 million in cash or 1500 Bitcoins, and linked it to a specific financier, Shen Qingjing. However, there were no traceable on-chain records in the investigation and court documents.

Crypto Assets expert genius A Shui analyzed in a political commentary program:

If it were Bitcoin: 1500 coins worth about 87.5 million USD (approximately 3-4 billion TWD), equivalent to the world's sixth largest holder, the possibility is extremely low.

If it's Ethereum: 1,500 coins worth about 3.45 million dollars (approximately 110 million New Taiwan dollars), the amount is relatively reasonable.

A Shui pointed out that blockchain transactions have immutability, and as long as the investigation finds the cold wallet public key, it can trace the truth of the funds.

Bad Luck Ritual: Cross the Fire Stove at Home, Step on Tiles

After being released on bail, Ko Wen-je returned to his hometown in Hsinchu to reunite with his mother. The media captured him crossing a fire pit, stepping on broken tiles, and eating pig's trotter noodles, symbolizing "getting rid of bad luck." However, the legal battle has just begun, and it is expected that the prosecution will continue to appeal, with the lawsuit likely dragging on until 2028 before it may come to an end.

If ultimately convicted of corruption, it may affect their future eligibility to run for office.

The Political Storm at the Intersection of Justice and Crypto Assets

The uniqueness of this case lies in the intertwining of Taiwan's political elite with rumors of Crypto Assets:

Political Aspect: Affecting the image of the People's Party and Ko Wen-je's political future

Encryption Aspect: Triggering societal attention to virtual currencies, cold wallets, and on-chain tracking.

Judicial Aspect: Testing the professionalism and transparency of investigation and prosecution in digital asset investigations.

Conclusion

The rumor about Ko Wen-je's "1500 Bitcoins" remains an unresolved mystery. Although he emphasizes that "nothing has been found," this storm combining politics, judiciary, and Crypto Assets will continue to influence public opinion and election dynamics in Taiwan until the judicial process is completed. In the coming years, this is not only a trial of a corruption case but also a significant test of the transparency of Crypto Assets and the credibility of the judiciary.